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How to apply for a tourist visa? |
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Traveling in China requires a tourism visa .
Visa is sub-divided into two kinds: group visa and individual visa. If you are a part of a group, the tour operator will often obtain it. Group visas will usually be issued for groups with at least 5, and the guide accompanying your group will keep the visas.
An Individual traveler can apply for one at any Chinese embassy or consulates, and the procedure is usually straightforward. China has its embassies and consulates in most western and many other countries. You can either get an application form in person at the embassy or consulate or download one by visiting the website of Chinese embassies in the foreign countries.
After fully and accurately completed your application, you submit it to the nearest Chinese consulate and embassies, either in person or by mail. A standard 30-day, single-entry visa from most Chinese embassies abroad can be issued in three to five working days. Rush processing of 24 hours issue or same-day is also available (additional Embassy fee applies).
When apply for a tourism visa, some extra documents are required before China tour:
1) For individual tourism visa, a letter of confirmation of the tour arrangement made by a travel agency in China or letter of reservation of hotel in China is required.
2) For group tourist visas, a confirmation letter from a provincial tourist bureau or a government-authorized Chinese travel agency; a name list of the whole group in triplicate and one copy of the information page of each passport are required.
Foreigners from countries which have visa agreements with China are treated in accordance with these agreements.
Visitors who want to Tibet need to acquire the consent of the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region or any one of its foreign representative offices.
Foreigners requesting to visit Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen and other Special Economic Zones may apply directly to visa authorities in these zones for tourist visas. Foreign tourist groups from Hong Kong for a 72-hour visit to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone are exempt from entry visas.
Tourist visas are usually valid for three months, but can be extended for an extra month at the Foreigners Section of the Public Security Bureau. Passports must be valid for at least six months before you travel to China. |
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What about child rate? |
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There is normally no charge for a child under 5 years old sharing a room with parents when you take a China tour. But some hotels will charge the extra bed. For baby under 2 years old, baby cot will be provided by the hotel free of charge. Normally Children under 2 years old are free from the breakfast fare and Children under 12 years pay 50 percent for the breakfast. Different hotels may vary in their respective regulations. If there are some surcharges required, please pay it on the spot. |
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How can arrange international arrival and departure transfer if your land only? |
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You may choose to arrange the international arrival/departure transfer on your own, taking taxi or use hotel shuttle service. Or you may request this service from us by providing the international flights schedule. This service costs about $15-$50 pp. |
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What credit cards are accepted in China? |
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Most of the internationally accepted credit cards are usable in China. They include: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's Club, and the JCB card of Japan.
Credit cards are accepted only in large shopping malls and stores. Credit card symbols are displayed in the visible place in shops and hotels indicating credit cards are accepted. China Tour Operator accept accept both Visa and Master. |
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How to dress while you travel? |
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During the daytime of China tour, shirt, T-shirt, jeans, Shorts and sneaker are all very practicle. The regular daily 3 meals too.
Unless there is a show or special dinner, it is nice to dress up as you used to do in your own country. But that doesnt mean you need to pack several suits or dresses even if there are several special occasions during your trip. |
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What type of meals we are going to get during our tour in China? |
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Breakfast will be arranged in the hotels you stay. Sometime American Buffet, sometime Chinese Buffet.
The day meals listed in your itinerary are usually pre-arranged and fixed for the group and will consist of Chinese delicacies and a limited choice of western foods. If you like Chinese - you will enjoy! If you don't-- you always can order other meals on the menu, please note that extra cost for this extra order may apply. It should be paid by yourself before you leave the restaurant. If you don't feel the local Chinese meal is better that you have in the US. Please don't blame the restaurant, since most of overseas Chinese restaurants are westernized. |
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In my itinerary, no meal is arranged (included), how can we choose restaurant while we are in China? |
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You have the following several choices:
Use restaurants in the hotel.
Government approved restaurant for foreigners.
Travel guidebooks recommendation. |
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Do we eat Chinese food throughout the trip? |
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Most of the meals we offered are Chinese food, but we defer to your preferences and opinions. Any suggestions would be welcome. |
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What kind of vehicles we will be on during our tour in China? |
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This depends on how many people in the tour group. All the vehicles are air-conditioned, clean, comfortable, non-smoking and big enough for the entire group of people. |
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Do I have to tip in China? How much to tip? |
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Tipping has become a common practice when you tour china. It has become a very popular norm to tip the tour guide and driver, hotel bellboy in recognition of their good service. It is not customary to leave tips at local restaurant. Normally, you do not need to tip at hotel restaurants, as the bill includes 10% to 15% service charge.
No tip is included in the tour cost even if you travel with a group.
We suggest $5 to $10 /per guest per day as tips for tour guide and 3 to 8 USD to the driver and about 2$ for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.
For active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping. If you are traveling in-group more than 10, we recommend US$5-6 / per guest per day for the tour director and US$2-4 for the local guide in each city, $1-2 for our driver.
It's your own decision not to tip if you don't enjoy the service. |
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Some days in my itinerary are Public Holiday in China; I am worried it may be too crowded to enjoy my trip? |
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Everything is pre-arranged, double-confirmed therefore you will be able to enjoy a worry-free trip. In some scenerary spots, there may be crowded people, but the our local guides are all very experienced to handle this situation and will be able to well organize your tour. |
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How to contact my family when I travel in China? |
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You can always use the hotel telephone. But be aware that it could be as expensive as US$3 per minute. On the Yangtze cruise ships; it could be $20 per minute as they are using satellite telephone.
* Suggestions:
leave the phone numbers at home and ask them to call you;
send faxes from the business centers at the hotels and ships;
send emails from those business centers at the hotels and ships (note: you can not bring your own email account there as Chinas ISPs and ICPs are independent).
International Direct Dialing Service Codes & Time Difference of Some Countries and Regions. |
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Emergency happens, such as: luggage loss, theft or damage? |
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First of all make sure that the missing item was not misplaced. In the unlikely event of properties loss, ask your guide for help, if serious, report immediately to the police. Yangtze Cruises, Inc is not responsible for any loss, theft or damage to your baggage. Insurance is strongly recommended. Airlines have baggage restrictions and you should check with the air carrier prior to your flight. |
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What kind of helps are available in the case of injury or other medical emergency while traveling? |
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Besides our trained professional guide will give you possible first aid, you will be sent to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment as quick as possible. If this happens on the cruise during the sailing, the doctor on the cruise ship will give you the first aid make contact the nearest local hospital whenever its necessary and send you to the hospital from the close port. |
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What do I do if I lost my passport when traveling in China? |
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If the passport is lost in China, report to the local public security organization as soon as possible. Besides, contact the embassy or consulate of your own country applying for an exit document with a certificate issued by the local public security organization. |
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Will the tour guide allow us to decide if we visit any factories or go shopping? |
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Usually, besides the tour itinerary, the local guides may provide option for you, such as visiting factories or going shopping. You can always let your guide know your interests and needs. Discussion is always a good way with your guide. |
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What's the best buy in China? |
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Silk, tea, antiques, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese medicines, handicrafts such as paper-cutting, replicas of terra-cotta horses and warriors and other articles with Chinese flavor are all ideal souvenirs and good gifts for friends. |
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What cautions should foreigners take when buying Chinese antiques? |
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When buy expensive articles, you'd better choose the shops run by the government. Make sure that the antiques you bought carry a wax seal indicating that it is authentic and is able to be exported from China.
Also need know that antiques dating before 1795 cannot be legally exported.
Keep the purchase receipts to show the customs when depart China. |
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Do we have our meals with our guides? |
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Yes, the guide and the driver will dine in the same restaurant with you. But, they will not share a table with you without your invitation. |
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Can taxi drivers at the airport understand English? |
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IF you decide to take taxi to the hotel upon your international arrival, we suggest you have your hotel's name address and phone number written both in English and China to show the taxi driver. The tour final documents provided by Yangtze Cruises, Inc will have this kind of thing sent to you before your trip. |
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